Assigltob tb the sqppess



'March 5, 1929. J. VAN ACKEREN REGBNERATIVE HEATING s'rnuc'runn Filed July 24. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5, 1929.

' J. VAN ACKEREN REGENERATIVE HEATING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 24 1922 March 5, 1 929. JQVAN ACKEREN 'REGENERATIVE HEATING STRUCTURE Filed July 24. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet March 5, 1929. J. VAN ACKEREN 1,704,637

REGENERATIVE HEATING STRUCTURE Filed July 24. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

more stares J VAN AGE 11,704,687 harem XOFFEE,

mar, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, Assreh'oaxro w s aoeesas COMPANY, OF PITTEEB'URGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 013 PENNSYLVANIA.

BEGENERATIVE HEATING STRUCTURE.

Application filed J'hly 24,

the thone or combustii'm lines of the heatmg walls of the di tiling chambers, by which svstrin flame or combustion is niaintaiuc hncurreutly in all (Yillil'lc flucs of each lll wall, with periodic reversal in di- E} of flow of the hex-ailing gases and the attainment of ellicicnt combustion and heat-- 111g effect; in each direction of the flow of the heating gases; the combinatior of this improved system of distril'iutioh with a 0011b pleze revcr:-;al regenerative system for conse vine; heat from the combustion lines and lriipa'i'tiug such he t to the medium fed into the lines, the reg native system being eousl ruched and arranged with respect to the lines connected 'thcree th in such man- 2105 as to all I 1 elliciency in heat cons-' \1"vz2fl'l()ii and equality in distribution of the healing rifle in the several distilling chainhe, s of the battery; a ready adaptability for mgr-oration with an ml'l'raneously derived u producer or blast furnace gas, for fizeh with regenerative heating}; of the fuel gas in some of the regenerators, Without any (-ountcrciu'rent flow between the incoming}; fuel gas and the out'llowiing waste fins, so that Waste of the fuel gas is avoided.

lh addition to toe general objects recited aliiovo, the invention has for further objects xuch other imprmeinents and advantages in :oastruel'ion and operation as are found to ibl'ain in to fll'lllCtllPGH and devices herein- .,"l:er described or *laiined.

lo the accompmiying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing, for purposes of exomplilicatiion, a preferred form manner in which the invention 1e embodied :uid practiced, but wihout lhc claimed invention to suchilh'is- "are or instances: is a coin} osite vertical sectional 1922. Serial No. 576,985.

and elevational, view of a vertical retort construt 11 embodying features above specified and conslructec n accordance with the improvements of the present invention, the view being take: in the several vertical planes ii'ulicatod bythe lines B--B, CC, l) D audE-Ji of Fig.

Fig. 2is acoinposite vertical sectional elevation of the retort co; struction taken in planes indicatedl'iy the line AA of Fig. l;

8 is a com 'iosito horizontal sectional view taken in the different horizontal planes indicated by the lines ll -F, GG, HH one J-J of Fig. 2; v p i Fi 4C is a vertical sectional elevation taken in the planes indicated by the line K-K of Fig, 3, and i 5 is another vertical sectional elevation similar to F 2, but illusti. Sling a further embodimentof theinvention.

The same characters of reference desigthe same parts in each of theseveral views of the drawings. i

In its present embodiment, the invention is incorporated in a vertical retort construction for producing, metallurgical coke and one that is especially desigxiied forthe ernployii'ient of an mztraneously, derived gas, such as producer or blast furnace forfuel. For convenience, the present de- )tion will be confined-to. this embodiment 1e invention; features of construction and operation are, however, capable of other valuable applications, for example, to apparatus generally useful in the heat treatn'tent of materials or to constructions Gillbodying the combination principle exemplified in my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States for Vertical retort battery, filed February l, 1921, Serial which discloses gas may be utilized for preheating air When the firing is done with coke oven gas or other fuelgas that does not require preheating,

consequently the invention is not confined in its scope to the specific use and embodiment herein described as an illustrative example.

Referring to the drawings, there are illustrated views of a Vertical retort battery or the byproduct type, as hereinbefore mentloned. The vertlcal retort battery embodies respectivley arranged and extend alongone tort. W'hr'a so eniaio cd a continuous after appear.

side of the battery assembly, whereas the regenerators extend in series along the other side of the battery assembly, as will herein- V The heating walls 12 form the side walls of the respective retorts 11, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, andithe outer ends of the respective retorts as well as the heating walls are reinforced by side refractory walls designated generally by the reference character 15. Between the inner ends of theretorts 11 and their corresponding"heating walls 12 is 10- cateda mediate wall structure 16 which separates saidretorts and heating walls from the regenerators.

The coal to be coked is contained in coal hoppers 18 corresponding to the series 11 of retorts and supported by the superstructure 20 ot the battery. These coal hoppers discharge into coal chutes 21, the lower ends ofeach chute communicating respectively with charging holes 23 inthe upper ends of the rotorts 11. coal from the several hoppers may be controlled by the manually-operated combined and regulating valves 25 individual to therespective chutes 21 and interposed between said chutes and the hoppers 18 above them. the openings 26 at the bottoms of the retorts 11. In order to facilitate discharge of the coke from said retorts, the side Walls oi the latter diverge toward the bottom and away from the central major axis of the retort, as shown more particularly in Fig.

1. Because of the great height of the re torts'as compared with their width and crosswise dimension, the retort battery is preferably employed as a continuous vertical re- 'i'eed or material may be maintained through the retorts 11, with continuous discharge of the iini hed coke from the bottoms of said retorts into discharge chutes 27 individual to The discharge of r The fresh coke is discharged through each pair of adjacent retort-s, as shown in 1. In discharging through the chutes 27, the coke is guided by pivoted aprons 30 into the path of rotary dischargers 81, which insure substantially continuous movement of the finished coke through the chutes 27. From t ie bottoms of the chutes 27, the coke may be discharged at will through manually controlled gates 32 onto inclined hoppers 33. The hoppers 38 incline downwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 toward the coke conveyor and the discharge from the hoppers unto the coke conveyer 3st may be controlled by the individual pivoted gates 35 respectivley operated'by levers and pull rods 36.

The heat for coking the charges of coal in the several retorts 11 is derived from the he ng walls 12 corresponding to said rotorts. Each heating wall 12 is constituted of a plurality oi vertical flame or combustion ilucs S7 thatare operatively disposed into single groups in their respective heatin' walls. 'lfhat is-to say, all of the'heati ines or" each heating wall operate concurrcntly for flow in thesame direction; in the flow is in the same direction during a reversal period throughout the entire s' ,stem. of fines of the battery, as will hereinatter appear.

The r'egeneratoz's 88 are located on that side of the battery opposite from the retorts l1 and heating walls 12 and are separated from retorts and heating walls by the mediate wall structure 16. As shown in Fi 3, the regcnerators are located in a single series along one side of the battery, with the major vertical planes of the regenerators parallel with the major vertical planes oi? the retorts and heating wails. ()1 e ively, the series regenerators 38 is disposed into groups R and S,each such group it and each such group S comprisin tour rcgenerators taken lutiin, and the roups site": at-

with the groups S. When the several irgenerators constituting the group .i: :1 operating for inflow, that is to say, l livering preiieated gaseous media to the of the heating walls, the several ri 'encratcrs oi the other groups S are Opil'iltlflg tor out-- flow to extract heat from the fine 1 es discharged into the regenerate-rs from rue tlues. Gr. reversal of the battery, at the end oi an operating period determined by practice, the inilow regenerators become outflow generators and the outflow regcnerators come inflow regenerators.

Each regenerator 38 is preferably a bi" narrow upright chamber containing open. brickv-xork, coininonl called checkerwbrk and indicc l at 40 with a sole channel ll under: th such checkerwork, the chann s 11 forming he soles of such chambers and openiim up into the checkerwork. The sex eral generators are heated by the hot coir bustion products that are exhausted from Ill) the flame or combustion flues hereinbei'ore mentioned and then, on reversal impart such heat to the medium that they feed into these flame fines.

In the operation of the battery, according to the present.embodiment oi the invention which employs an extraneously derived gras, such producer gas for fuel, the several regenraators constituting the group B, when l1 inflow operation, deliver air and fuel gas to the flame fines during the period when the latter are operatii for up'l'low conibua tion; these regonerators R receive the exhaust gases troni the flame tlues after re versal, that is to say, during the period when the flame lines are operating or downtiow combustion. On the other hand, the several regencrators constituting; the group S operate for inflow of air and fuel gusto deliver the same to the lines when the latter are operating for downi'low coinlmstion, and the said-regrenerators S operate "for outflow to receive the exhaust gases from the dues dur regenerators when operating for outflow. I

However, the several ree eneratorsR operate for inflow while at the same time the several regenerators S operate for outflow and, on reversal of the, flow through the flame fines, the several re enerators S are switched to the inflow function while concurrently the other regenerators R are sw tched to the out.

flow function.

In accordance withthe invention, and as shown in Fig. 3, the producer gas regenerators P Of each group'll or S are constituted of the two inside regenerators of their respective groups; whereas the air regenerators A of the groups R and are constituted of the two outside regenerators of their respective groups. Inasmuch as the groups R alternate with. the groups S and when the regenerators of the groups R are operating for inflow several regrcnerators oi the group S are operating for outflow, and vice versa, and because of the arrangement of the inflow fuel gas regenerators as the inside regenerators oi? their respective groups, only the air regenerators A of the inflow groups will be adjacent to and in countercurrent relation with the waste gas regenerators llhwhethe the group R or S be operating for inflow. Consequently any countercurrent relation oil? flow between adjacentregenerators, in any operation of the battery, is only between air the waste gases flowing out through the waste regenerators is an important advantage because it practically eliminatesany 1 *aste oi. fuel gas, inasmuch the. fuel gas regeueraltors are located. remotely from any regioi': where conditions of pressure diil'er-- cntial must be maintained in the operation of the battcr The operating conditions in regenerative heating structure practice require a prcssurein the outflow regenerators somewhat less than that of ti inflow regenerators and, in the col... .ruction of the present invention, only the inflow air regenerators are exposed to any losses which might accrue due to this pressure differential. In the case or the incoming air, however, any loss from short circuiting into the waste gas .erators is pra a: any of the battery operation..

.ouili The several regenerators A of the groups ll lead at their upper ends into horizontal. iced Uliiiililfllt-i 51, the latter rutierulirrqinto the mediate wall structure 16 and COmli'HlDleating with vertical feed cl'iannels 53. These vertical "feed channels extend down to a level below the lower ends of the tines 3i and there communicate with horizontal feed. or flow channels 54 which extend beneath the tines oil alternate pairs K of iu jacent heating. wells. The correspou 13; channels oi'the intermediate pairs L of adjacent heating walls are respectively 'cmnniunicably connected with the respective horizontal channels Mend through the vertical channels 53 with the ally ne 'ligible in the regrenerators A, by horizontal ducts or flow passagljcs 55 which cross around beyond the construction, each regenerator A of the several groups It is coinniunicably connected with the lower ends of the flame tlues ol 2 pair of adjacent heating walls, and the above described duct or channel system, including no outer ends of theretortre: 11 "from the'horieating with vertical feed the vertical channels, the horizontal channels and the cross-around channels, provides a means whereby the lower ends of all the flainefiues of the battery are connnunicably connected with air regenerators A of the ,7 to a level below the lower ends ot' the fines 37 and there communicate with horizontal teed or flow channe s 64- which extend. beneath the tines oi the alternate pairs K of adjacent heating walls. The corresponding channels 66 or", the intermediate pairs L of adjacent heating walls are respectively u communicably connected with the respec-' tive horizontal channels 6% and tlirongh the vertical channels 63 with the regenerators P, by horizontal ducts or flow passages 65 which cross around beyond the outer ends of the retorts 11 and below the before nientioned cross-around ducts 55 from the horizontal flow channels (i l to the horizontal fiow channels 66. A distributing channel 67 is commumcably connected with each channel G l by preferably a single port 68.

The distributing channels 6'? are connnunh cably connected with the lower ends of the fines of the heating walls in which said channels 67 are located. In like manner, there is also provided above each channel 66 a distributing channel 69 communicably connected with the channel 66 preferably by a single port and also connnunicably connected with the fines of the heating wall in. which said channel. 69 is located; With this construction, each regenerator P of the several groups R is communicably connected with the lower ends of the flame fines of a pair of adjacent heating walls, and. the described duct or channel system for the producer regenerators P, said system including the vertical channels, the horizontal channels and the cross-around channels, provides a means whereby the lower ends of all the flame fines of the battery are communicably connected with producer gas regenerators P of the groups B.

As shown in PE 3, the several distribnting channels 57, 59, 67 and 69 Pref-CF21- bly extend clear through the side refractory wall 15 to permit access from the exterior of the battery into such channels {or the purpose of regulating the draft through their respective ports 58, 60, 68 and 70 by means oi. ordinary dampers orlslide bricks 71 (see Fig. 2). Normally however the open ends of the said distributing channels may be closed by suitable plugs. The said dampers 71 provide regulation for the flow through the flame fines 37 in both npfiow and doWnfiow combustion, inasmuch as the flow must pass through the ports 58, 60, 68 and 76, whether the combnstion'be up or down in the flame fines. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs 1 to at inclusive, situation is advantageously employed to simplify somewhat the flow passage construction at the tops of the fines, as will presently appear, 7

As hereinbeiore stated, the several regenerators of the group S are for the purpose of supplying preheated gaseous media to the tops oi the flame fines 37 of the several heating walls12, during the reversal perieds when downiiow' combustion is main tained in said flame fines. The several regenerators A. of the groups S lead at their upper vends into horizontal teed channels 72, the latter ntending through the mediate wall structure 16 and communicatingdirectly with horizontal distributing channels '4'3 which extend above the tops of the fines oi": the intermediate pairs L of ad]a cent heating walls and are directly commu nicablyconnected with said fines by ports 74. The corresponding channels 75 of the alternate pairs K of adjacent heating walls are respectively commnnicably connected with the tops of the fines by ports 7 6 and also respectively connnnnicably connected with the horizontal channels 73 and through the channels 72 with the regenerators A, by horizontal ducts or flow passages 7'? which cross around beyond the outer ends of the retorts 11 from the horizontal channelsTS to the horizontal channels 75. With this constructiom each regenerator A of the several groups S is coinmnnicably connected with the upper ends of the flame fines of a pair of adjacent heating walls, and the above described duct or channel system, including the horizontal channels and the cross-around channels, provides a means whereby the upper ends all the flame fines of the battery are communicably connected with air regenerators A of the groups S. Y

In like manner, the several regenerators P of the groups S lead at their upper ends into horizontal feed channels 78 the latter extending through the mediate wall structure 16 and communicating directly with iorizontal distributing channels 79 which extend above the tops of the tines oi" the intermediate pairs L of adjacent heath walls and are directly connnunicably connected with said fines by ports 80. The corresponding channels 81 of the alternate pairs K of adjacent heatii walls are respectively communicably connected with the tops of the fines by ports 82 and are also respectively commnnicably connected with the horizontal channels 79 and through the channels 78 wit the regenerators l by horizontal duct-s or flow passages 83 which cross around beyond the outer ends of the retorts 11. from the horizontal channels 79 to the horizontal channels 81. With this construction, each regenerator P of the several groups S is communicably connected with the upper ends of the flame lines of a pair of adjacent heating walls, and the above described duct or channel systemflncluding the horizontal channels and. the cross-around channels, provides a means whereby the upper ends of all the flame fines of the battery are communicably connected with producer gas regenerators P of the groups S.

As shown in Fig. 3., the several upper horizontal channels 7 3, 7 5, 79 and 81 may extend clear through the side refractory wall 15, for the purpose of permitting access from the exterior of the battery to said channels. The draft through the upper ends of the, individual flame fines conn'nunicably connected with said channels may be regulated. by ordinary dampers or slide bricksSl (see Fig. l) for individually controlling the l'low through the ports at the tops of the fines. Normally the outer ends of said channels 73, 75, 79 and 81 are closed by suitable plugs.

Extending longitudinally of the battery is a waste gas tunnel or stack flue 85 (Figs. 2 and 5), the waste gas tunnel. 85 serving for either of the groups R or S of regenerators, when operating as waste gas regenerators for the outflow of the waste gases. The said waste gas tunnel 85 leads to the usual waste gas stack. Flow boxes 86 connect the sole channels of the several regenerators of both groups R and S individually with the waste gas tunnel 85. The flow boxes 86 are provided with valves 87 for controlling the flow between the individual regenerators and the Waste gas tunnel. The valves 87 of all the enerators of the group S are open,

while concurrently the corresponding valves of all of the-regenerators of the group It are closed. valves 87 of the groups It of regenerators are open and the corresponding valves of the group S are closed. Eachregenerator A of both groups It and S is provided with a lid .88 (Fig. 1) which when open. permits air to flow intoits flow box and thence into dividual valve connections 90 to the several regeneratorsl? of both groups R and S. In

On reversal of the battery, the

the regenerators P of the group S are closed to shut off. the supply of fuel gas. On reversal of the battery, the valve connections 90 are operated to permit the supply. of gas into the regenerators P of the group S and concurrently to cut oil the supply of gas from the regenerators P of the group R.

The several flame fines 37 of the battery may be conveniently reachedby access flues 91. located in the top' structure of the bat tery and positioned above the ports at the upper ends of the respectiveflues. Nor mally these access fiues 91 are closed by the usual removable covers (not shown). In the form of the invention shown in F ig, 5 the severalregenerators 38 are extended to a levelbelow the discharge outlets of the coke chutes, thereby increasing the regenerative capacity of the battery. A fur- 'ther departure in this form of the invention is madeavith respect to the-arrangementof the distributing channels above the flues.

Instead of the tops .of the regenerators A described flow channels 54, 56, 64 and 66 at channels 73,75, 79 and 81. This construc tion enables the downflow combustion to be regulatedthrough asingle port 93 for each distributing channelv and independently of the upflow combustion. The regulation of the flow through they ports 93v may be accomplished by ordinary. slide bricks or dampers 95. The vertical ducts 91 below the channels 92may be closed,when not in use, by.

covers96 located in the bottom ofthe chan nels 92. Normally the inspection holes '94 a of said channels 92'are closed by suitable plugs. V p

Theoperation of the retortbattery, as-

suming that a relatively lean or dilute gas,

such as ordinary producer gas is employed as the fuel, in the fines of the heating walls, is as follows: if it be assumed that the several re enerators com risin the rou R be t) D. to

operating for inflow and the fiues throughout the battery be operating fornpfl'ow combustion, it follows that during this period the horizontal channels 54 and 6% (see section JJ Fig. and through the crossaround ducts 55 and into the horizontal channels 56 and 66, From said horizontal channels 54:, 56, G l and 66 the air and fuel gas passes into the distributing channels 57, 59, 6.7 and 69 through the ports 58, 60, 68

and 70. These distributing channels dethe flues 37. Passing upwardly liver the air and fuel gasto 9 bottoms of through the fiues 37 the air and fuel gas burn. At the tops of the flues thewaste gases pass out through the ports 7 i, 76, 80 and 82 intothe channels (see section FF, Fig. 3) 73, 75, 79 and 81 and thence through the connecting channels 72 and 78 into the regenerators of the group S. The cross-are nd ducts 7? and 83 respectively deliver the low i'roin the channels 75 "into the channels 78 and from the channels 81 into the channels 79. Passing downu 'ardly through the the Waste gases flow through the open flow boxes 86 of such regenerators into the wast gas tunnel 62. On reversal of the battery,

the flow is exactly reversed through the flow passages just described. The regcnerators A and P of the group S deliver to thetops of the fiues the air and fuel and he Waste gases from said flucs exhaust from the botthrough said regenerators, the waste gases ultimately pass tl'iroi-igh' their open iloW boxes into the Waste tunnel.

The by-products and distillate gases from the seveii'alretorts or" coking ch ambersll pass out of the tops of said retorts throughas- -'cension pipes fit individual to the respective retorts l1.

lcctingmain 98, through Which the'drstillate and by-products may pass to the icy-product regenerators S lheee ascension pipes carry the distillate and by-product to a common colcontiguous to such retort chambers and re spectively comprising combustion flues al ternately operable in unison l'or either upflow or downflovv combustion; upper pairs of feed channels respectively communicably connected With the tops of the firms lower pairs of feed channels respectiv ly communicably connected with the bottoms of the regenerators disposed in the inside'of t e arch.) and the air re 'enerators' at the oiu'sido whereby countercurrcnt flow between inflow fuel. gas regenerators and outllOW Waste gas regencrators, in regenerators alongside each other; is prevented; substantially as specified,

2. In a vertical retort battery, in combina tion: a plurality of retortchambers; heating Walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively comprising combustion ilues alternately operable in unison for either UPflOW or doWnfloW combustion; upper pairs of feed channels respectively communicably connected With the tops. oi the fines; lower pairs'o'i feed channels respectively comm nicably connected With the bottoms of the lines; the respective feed channels oi alternate heating Walls being communicably con nected with the corresponding *lced channels oi the intermediate heatingwalls by 'liow ducts'crossing around the outer ends of the retort chambers; alternate and intermediate groups of regenerators the regenerators of one groupv being communicably connected with alternate pairs oftupper feed channels and the 'regeneralors of the othe: roup being commimicahly connected with toe algroup of rcgenerators when operating for inflow comprising both fuel gas and air regencrators w' -n the'l'uel gas regenerators disposed in the inside of the group and the air res 'enerators at the, out {.95 whereby countercurrcnt flow between inflow fuel gas regenerators'and outflow Waste regencrstore, in regenerates-s alongside each other, is prevented; substantially as specified.

3. Ina vertical retort battery, in combination: aplurality of retort chambers; heating walls contiguous to such retort chambers and respectively comprising combos iii) tion lilies alternately operable in unison for either upflow or downl'low combustion; upper teed channels respectively communicably connected wi h the tops of the lines; lower teed channels respectively communicably connected with the bottoms oi? the flue-s; the respective teed channels of alternate heatinp walls being communicably connected with the corresponding teed channels of the inieruieoite heating: walls by "flow ducts crossing around. the on ends of the retort chambers; alternate and internie diate groups of regenerators, the regenerators oi? one group being communicably con-- nected with alter ate upper teed channels, and the regeneiitors of the other group being); communicably connected with the alternate lower teed channels, each group of rogenerators when o per-sting tor inflow comprising both :iuel gas and air reeenerators, with the fuel gas regenerators disposed in the inside of the group and the air regenerators at the outside, whereby coijintcrcurrent flow between inflow fuel gas renenerators and outflow waste gas regei'ierators, in re generators alongside each other, is pre vented; substantially as SPOClllCKl.

41-. In a vertical retort, in combination; a plurality or" retort chambers; heating walls contiguoui's to such retort chambers and respectively comin'ising coiulnistion lines; up per feed channels respectively (EOIllll'lllIlb cably connected with the tops oi? the lines; lower feed channels respectively communicably connected with the bottoms the tines; the respective feed channels of alterate heating walls being communicably connected with the corresponding teed channels of the intermediate heating walls by flow ducts crossing around the outer ends of the retort chambers; and regenerators some of which are communicably connected with upper iiieod channels, and other of which are. communicably connected with the lower feed. c iannels; substantially as specified.

A vertical retort battery having retort chambers and lined heating walls contiguous to said retort chambers; cou'ibined with re- ;rcnerators communicably connected with the flue-s Oil the heating; rolls and disposed in inflow groups alternating; in position side by side with outflow groups, each group oi regeuerators when operating for inflow coniprising; both fuel gas and air regenerators, with the fuel, gas regenerators disposed in the inside oi such groups and the air regenerators at the outside, whereby counter-- therein being always separated on both sides from the r nerators operating in counterflow, by in erveuiug regenerators in which the some direction as in the s regenerators.

7. it in acclaimed in claim 6, char.- actcrizei'l by the ai-utngement that groups of tour regr nerators operating for inflow alternate wi the groups of tour regeneraters operating for outflow, and the fuel gas supplying regenerate-rs of a group operating for inrlow are disposed at the inside of the group and the air supplying regenerators oi? the group disposed at the outside.

8. A VGl'i' lCdl retort battery having retort chambers and fined heating walls contiguous to said etort chambers; coi'i'iliiined with regenerators comuuinicably connected with the of the heating walls, and arranged side each other and disposed in a series oi suleby-side groups adapted respectively to serve alternately for inflow of both fuel gas and air an d outflow 0i waste-gas, and the re nerators for inflow of fuel gas being the flow is in said fuel.

separated from all the regenerators for concurrent outflow of waste-gas by intervening regenerators for air.

9. A vertical retort battery having vertical retort chambers and heating walls be tween and contiguous to said retort chainhers, each of said heating walls comprising vertical combustion flues operable in unison for upfiow and downflow combustion. in alternation, coi'ubined with regenerators ar ranged side by side in a row alongside said retort chambers and heating walls and disposed in two series of groups of at least three regenerators each, the regenerators of one oi said series being); coinmunicably conheeled with the lines at the tops thereof and the regenerators 01 the other series of groups with the lines at the bottoms thereof, the groups of one of said series alternating in pesitiini with the groups of the other of said series each of the rou )S of re 'enerators comprising two regenerators. for inflow oi? air respectively disposed on the outside Oil the group and at least one regencratorfor inflow of fuel disposed between the air regenerators, whereby countercurrent llow between fuel gas and waste gas in regenerators alongside each other is prevented.

In testimony whereo; I have hereunto set iny'hand.

JOSEPH VAN licensee. i 

